“Tyrannosaur” Trailer

Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about this potentially strong film. I had heard it’s title pop up every now and then, over the last year. Most prominently, the Sundance Film Festival issued it acting awards for both of its main stars, Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman, as well as Best Director for first-time helmer Paddy Considine.

It tells the story of a harsh Irish community where a woman seeks to remove herself from an abusive relationship. She ends up looking for comfort in the arms of the least-expected person, a mean-spirited, ill-tempered alcoholic, who happens to be seeking his own redemption for his rotten lifestyle.

Apparently, the film contains two off-the-chart amazing performances by Mullan and Colman. I haven’t seen Olivia in much of anything, but look forward to what kind of honesty she can bring to such a damaged character. Peter Mullan, on the other hand, is a long-time favorite of mine. He is both memorable and fantastic in the small roles he has played in films like “Braveheart,” “Trainspotting” and “Children of Men.” Here, he really gets an unusual chance to flex his dramatic muscle. Much like John Hawkes, last year, I hope Mullan is able to truly deliver in this film and be honored with an underdog Oscar nomination. There’s always hope.